Intent: Word Counters

 

 

Counting my words again. 

Today my fellow Word Counters and I are sharing our monthly group post. Each month one group member picks  a number between 12 and 50. All participating bloggers are then challenged to write something (or a few somethings, as the case may be) using that exact number of words. Today we all share what we came up with. 

 This month's number is 50. 
It was chosen by Diane of On the Border.

As I've been doing in these Word Counters posts, I've chosen a theme and am using my word count multiple times in keeping with the theme. This month I've chosen the theme Intent.

~ "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States." 

 

~ The preamble to the Constitution, it's something I've been thinking a lot about lately. The words of the preamble succinctly articulate the intent of the forefathers of this country. I have always believed in the principals they'd tried to espouse, the thought, debate, intent, effort and foresight required of them.

 

~ "form a more perfect Union": perfection is a concept of aspiration. Their "more perfect" implies intent to strive for better, while (I believe) acknowledging that it's a process. The "more perfect" conceptualization leaves room for their posterity. And ours. The most important word though, is "union." Requiring that we unite.

 

~ "establish Justice": I think this concept was clearer in colonial times, when the goal was that required societal parameters be delineated and be equitable. Currently justice is not (the required) "blind," it's full sighted and intentional, partisan, economic, and racially motivated. It's not nationally cohesive but sporadic, individualized, and manipulated.

 

~ "ensure domestic Tranquility": domestic tranquility has scant presence here currently. That's not all bad. A free country fosters some turmoil, room for conflicting visions, it's where the seeds for growth lie. Two parties, even heated discourse doesn't need to be antithetical to tranquility. Tranquility, however, requires respect. We've lost ours. 

 

~ "provide for the common defense": the military was designed as answerable to two branches of government, not one leader. trump's misuse of troops for political purposes, his personal agenda, and monetary gain has undermined and weakened an institution vital to our protection. "Common defense" must refocus solely on common protection.

 

~ "promote the general Welfare": to call it socialism is to call the forefathers socialists, but getting caught up in terminology just distracts from intent. Students shouldn't be deprived of higher education due to economics. It harms the society. And humanitarianism demands that no member of our society go hungry. Ever.

Broccoli Slaw Soup

~ "secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity": Liberty is a blessing, one our forefathers fought for, and not just for themselves. It was their vision to create a fair, free, functioning society, not just or all, but for always. We know the forefathers' intent. What is ours?

 

Here are links to the other Word Counters posts:

On the Border 

Messymimi’s Meanderings 

Broccoli Slaw Soup (Crockpot or Not)        
                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

2 packages ramen noodle soup, soy sauce flavor

4 cups chicken broth

1 tsp sesame oil

1/4 cup soy sauce 

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp ginger paste

1 package (16 oz) broccoli slaw

3 green onions, chopped 

1 cup cooked chicken, chopped

 

NOTE: this is a very thick soup

 

Directions:

*FOR SLOW COOKER: Open the ramen soup packages and remove the flavor packets. Set aside the noodles for later.

*In the bowl of your slow cooker, whisk together the chicken broth, sesame oil, soy sauce, flavor packets from the soup, garlic, and ginger. Mix in the broccoli slaw and green onions, cover and cook on high for 1 hour.

*Reduce heat to low, add the cooked chicken and cook for 2 hours.

*Add the noodles from the ramen soup packages and 1 cup of water. Cook for up to another 10 minutes, until the noodles are soft. Remove from heat immediately, stir and serve.

*FOR STOVE TOP: bring the chicken broth, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and flavor packets to a boil. Reduce heat and add the broccoli slaw, green onions, and chicken, and simmer for 1/2 hour. Bring back to a boil, add the noodles and 1 cup of water. Cook for 2 minutes until the noodles are soft, then remove from the heat immediately and serve. 

Barbie's and Arby's: Use Your Words

 

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s  participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.

At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I'm using:  Arby's ~ Beef-n-Cheddar ~ coin jar ~ $170 ~ deodorant
They were submitted by Sarah of What TF Sarah.

 

 Confession time: I don't like Arby's roast beef, and have never tried the Beef-n-Cheddar. My kids did like the chicken fingers there, so over time I found that their turkey and Swiss sandwich is really good (and huge), and I love their specialty dinner salads (not to mention the Jamoca shakes). But on the rare occasion we go for fast food, Arby's rarely comes to mind, I haven't been there since the boys were little.

So today, as I work on a new recipe I have rolling around in my head ('tis the season so it's a Halloween themed recipe including pumpkin), I'm using my words in a short story. About going to Arby's. But not on purpose.

 

 

Pumpkin Pecan Crostata

(Halloween decorated or not)

Emily was almost ready to leave the house when she looked up at the clock and saw that she was running late. She was so looking forward to lunch with her friend, she hadn't seen Barbie since she and her husband had moved to the Cape. She grabbed the gift she'd bought for Barbie's newborn, smiling as she thought of holding her friend's baby daughter for the first time. 

She was just to her front door when her cell rang. Tempted to ignore it, she glanced and when she saw that it was her grandma calling, immediately answered it. When Grandma asked her plans, Emily explained where she was going for lunch.

Grandma: You know, dear, I just saw a commercial for that Arby's Beef-n-Cheddar sandwich and I'd love to try one.

Emily: I can bring you one, Grandma, but it may be a while. 

Grandma: That's not a problem, dear.

Emily: If you don't mind waiting, I'm going to have lunch, then I have a few quick errands that won't wait.

Grandma: What else are you doing? 

Emily: Well, I'm doing the world a favor and stopping to grab some deodorant. And since my coin jar is overstuffed and the drug store is next door to the bank, I'm going to turn my coins in for dollars.

Grandma: Oh, those are quick errands. If you don't mind grabbing me the sandwich, I'd appreciate that. And the opportunity to spend a little time with you. You'll stay and visit, won't you?
Emily: Of course.

Later:

 

Finishing up a lovely lunch that Barbie had made, kissing that sleeping baby on the cheek, hugging her friend and promising to be back soon, Emily went on to do her errands. Not far from Barbie's new house was a drug store with a branch of Emily's bank right next door. She ran into the drug store for her deodorant, pocketed the deposit slip for the whopping $170 she'd deposited into her account from all that change, then started the drive from the Cape towards home. An hour and a half later she'd stopped for the food and was walking into Grandma's house.

Grandma: Oh Emily, I'm so glad you're here. I was worried about you, you were gone so long. I even tried to call you but your phone went right to voicemail.

Emily: I'm so sorry, Grandma, I put it on silent so I wouldn't bother the sleeping baby. I must not have turned the ringer back on.

Grandma: Baby? There was a sleeping baby at Arby's?

Emily: No, at Barbie's. You know she and Tom just had a little girl.

Grandma: At Barbie's? I thought you were having lunch at Arby's.

Emily: I didn't say I was going to Arby's, I said I was going to Barbie's.

Grandma: Down on the Cape? Well that certainly explains a lot.

Moral of the story: if going to Barbie's gives you the tardies, you must stop at Arby's and give Grandma the farties make Grandma's day.

 

Here are links to all the other Use Your Words posts:

On the Border 

Wandering Web Designer 

Climaxed

What TF Sarah  

Part-time Working Hockey Mom

 

Pumpkin Pecan Crostata 

(Halloween decorated or not)

                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

1 refrigerator pie crust

1/4 cup honey pecan cream cheese

3 TBSP pumpkin puree

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 cup chopped pecans

 

OPT (to decorate for Halloween):

2 pecan halves

1 nonpareil 

6 thin pretzel sticks 

small piece of red candy

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.

*Unroll the pie crust onto the parchment paper and, using a rolling pin, roll out to about 1 inch longer in diameter.

*Whisk together the cream cheese, pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. Spread carefully onto the pie crust leaving about a 3/4 inch edge all the way around. 

*Roll the edges in all the way around to where the filling starts. Sprinkle the chopped pecans around the edges. NOTE: If you're not decorating this for Halloween, you can sprinkle the chopped pecans over the entire filling instead of just around the edges.

*Viewing the entire crostata as a face, place 2 pecan halves, angled up, where the eyes would be.

*Bake for 35 minutes. To continue decorating, place a nonpareil where the nose would be, the pretzel sticks as whiskers on either side of the nose, and the red candy below as a mouth.

They Say It's My Birthday: Poetry Monday

 

Poetry Monday's once a week.

I bet you know which day.

I don't participate every time,

But today I've come out to play.

My friends assign each week a theme,

Throw a Party's what they chose.

Now it's up to all of us,

to put our thoughts into prose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They Say It's My Birthday

 

When my kids were young I would

throw a party for most everything.

So much fun to watch as they'd,

play and laugh and sing.

 

Valentine's Day's a party "must",

it's about love, as you recall.

Crafts and games and friends galore,

with a sweet sugar rush for all.

 

Father's Day party's to honor

all the men we hold dear.

Now it's much more bittersweet,

miss loved ones no longer here.

Labor Day parties meant cook out.

Another on Memorial Day too.

One celebrated the start of school,

the other meant they were through.

 

New Year's Day we'd host a brunch,

an open house all day.

I'd cook and bake, more than 40 guests,

I'd have it no other way.

 

The Halloween party's just the end,

the build up's half the fun.

Party planning starts, you know

way back on October one.

But birthdays, when your kids are young,

there's just no bigger event.

Pizza, skating, even archery,

but worth every penny spent.

And always there were party foods.

Including, of course, a cake.

Loved to see their eyes light up,

when presenting what I'd make.

Funny thing about kids, you know.

ALL birthdays require you bake.

So even when my own came around,

THEIR favorite cake, I'd have to make.

But as I age I much prefer,

not to fuss so much for me.

Yesterday on my birthday, relaxed

with a crumble and a cup of coffee.

 

 

Apple Blackberry Cornbread Crumble

 

 

Sing it with me:

It's my party and I'll bake what I want to,

bake what I want to, bake what I want to.

You'd fuss less too, 

if it worked well for you.

 

 

 

 

 

Wait!

Read more poetry, 

you're not through.

Some talented writers

are in this crew:

 

On the Border

Messymimi's Meanderings 

Mother Owl 

 

Apple Blackberry Cornbread Crumble         

                                                                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 refrigerated or frozen pie crust

6 apples of your choice, peeled, cored, and sliced

6 oz blackberries, rinsed, well drained, and halved

2 TBSP flour

2/3 cups sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp dried ginger

1/3 cup flour

3 TBSP cornmeal

1 TBSP sugar

5 TBSP cold butter, chopped

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line your lower oven rack with tin foil in case of spillage.

*Prepare the bottom crust as per package directions for a baked pie.

*Place the apples and blackberries in a bowl. Add the 2 TBSP flour, 2/3 cup sugar, salt, cinnamon, and ginger and gently mix. Arrange evenly in the prepared crust.

*Mix together the remaining 1/3 cup flour, cornmeal, and the remaining 1 TBSP sugar. Cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients to create a crumble, then cover the pie with this topping.

*Bake for 45 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.